• Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution

  • 25th Anniversary Edition
  • By: Steven Levy
  • Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain
  • Length: 20 hrs and 23 mins
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars (1,928 ratings)

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Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution  By  cover art

Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution

By: Steven Levy
Narrated by: Mike Chamberlain
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Publisher's summary

Steven Levy's classic book traces the exploits of the computer revolution's original hackers - those brilliant and eccentric nerds from the late 1950s through the early '80s who took risks, bent the rules, and pushed the world in a radical new direction. With updated material from noteworthy hackers such as Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Richard Stallman, and Steve Wozniak, Hackers is a fascinating story that begins in early computer research labs and leads to the first home computers.

Levy profiles the imaginative brainiacs who found clever and unorthodox solutions to computer engineering problems. They had a shared sense of values, known as "the hacker ethic" that still thrives today. Hackers captures a seminal period in recent history when underground activities blazed a trail for today's digital world, from MIT students finagling access to clunky computer-card machines to the DIY culture that spawned the Altair and the Apple II.

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What listeners say about Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution

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It's a classic

A must read for anyone interested in the history of the software industry. The "hacker ethic" theme feels outdated now, but the stories are captivating.

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8 people found this helpful

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A good audio book.

A good audio book, this book will give you a good understanding of the pc. And I think it is a must for anyone thinking of looking at computers as a hobby or a job.

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4 people found this helpful

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Great book on the history of computer

Very interesting to hear about how it all started and the key players who moved forward the dream of everyone having a personal computer.

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interesting history on the early days of computers

A pretty cool history about computer 'hackers' through the ages. The author does a great job of organizing the narrative into a series of themed eras, focusing on different themes, personalities, and locations that were important for the development of the digital world.

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Great start, last 25th year is just an afterword

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Hearing all of the stories of the 80's hackers -- I actually had met several of the guys, and had friends in the industry, and it was a crazy time. I was disappointed that the "25th anniversary update" didn't do more to cover in the more recent history, other than brief afterwords that elude to the more recent use of the hacker ethic.

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Dr.bergeron

great book, really makes you appreciate what you don't have to deal with in today's computer professions.

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Excellent story and excellent performance

One of the most important subjects in the history of mankind in an entertaining bundle.

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Great read! Last minute is totally contradictory

The last min is all copyright stuff messages contradicting the hacker ethic :)
Yet, someone like me has to help pay the bills.
Great inspiring stories. Back to hack life

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  • KD
  • 06-09-18

Hackers is AWESOME!

I love reading Steven Levy books. Hackers is one of those books. I teach Cyber Security and Computer Info Tech and this books makes so much sense. It really helps to know the beginnings and how the field evolved. I highly recommend this book.

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Hackers

An accurate protrayal of the growth of th PC industry. The author skips over very influential individuals to focus on minor players in the industry. It is more if a historic article as the industry moves quickly.

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